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Community Development Services, Planning and Building Department, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 253-S1811 with Conservation Strategy Group, LLC, in an amount not-to-exceed $36,000 for a term of three years effective December 19, 2017, and expiring on December 18, 2020, to provide lobbying and consulting services to achieve outside funding and policy goals for the Lake Tahoe Basin.
FUNDING: Public Utility Franchise Fees. (No Federal Funds)
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Services, Planning and Building Department (Planning), recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Agreement for Services 253-S1811 with Conservation Strategy Group, LLC (CSG), in an amount not-to-exceed $36,000 for a term of three years effective December 19, 2017, and expiring on December 18, 2010, to provide lobbying and consulting services to achieve outside funding and policy goals for the Lake Tahoe Basin.
Planning requests the Board make findings that lobbying services are more economically and feasibly performed by outside independent consultants in accordance with El Dorado County Charter, Section 210 (b) (6), because the necessary specialized skills are not currently available through County staff.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On July 14, 2015 (Item 19), the Board authorized the Chair to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the California Tahoe Alliance (Alliance) to encourage coordinated strategies for guidance on State funding legislation and to provide a mechanism to apply for funding that supports a broad range of environmental, restoration, and water quality and supply projects, while also supporting coordinated implementation of the Environmental Improvement Program.
The Alliance is a coalition of California agencies and jurisdictions (California Tahoe Conservancy [CTC], City of South Lake Tahoe, etc.) that are working together to identify, coordinate, and advocate for state funding for the Lake Tahoe Basin. Alliance members are expected to commit staff time necessary to meet the goals of the Contract. Alliance members are also pooling resources, through individual contracts, to engage CSG to assist with lobbying efforts as outlined in Attachment D. The CTC has successfully utilized CSG’s expertise in the past and they have a proven track record in Sacramento. At the July 14 meeting, the Board further authorized staff to pursue a separate contract with CSG, with an anticipated cost of approximately $1,000 per month. This minimal cost for the potential to secure hundreds of millions of dollars for the Lake Tahoe Basin provides an excellent prospective return on investment.
On September 22, 2015 (Item 11), the Board approved an Agreement for Services 096-S1610 with CSG in the amount of $24,000, for a term of two years, to provide for lobbying and consulting services to achieve outside funding and policy goals for the Lake Tahoe Basin.
The County will benefit from having a lobbying firm in Sacramento because additional State funding from initiatives such as Prop 1, SB 5, Transportation Funding and Cap and Trade Funding are potentially available to Tahoe Basin agencies. It is in the County's best interest to be as competitive as possible to receive some of these grant funds. These funds are important because they will help the County meet its goals outlined in the Environmental Improvement Program and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System requirements.
ALTERNATIVES
The alternative would be to not approve the Agreement with CSG, which may impact the County’s ability to coordinate and cooperatively pursue future grant funding opportunities with Alliance members.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Chief Administrative Office
CAO RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost associated with this item. Sufficient appropriations have been included in the Fiscal Year 2017/18 Budget and will be recommended in future budgets for the term of the Agreement. The annual cost for this activity is estimated at $17,500. Public Utility Franchise Fees will be used to fund the Agreement with CSG for $36,000 and County staff costs of $16,000 over the three year period.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain the Chair’s signature on two (2) original copies of the Agreement.
2) Clerk of the Board to return one (1) signed original copy of the Agreement to Community Development Services, Contracts and Procurement Unit, for distribution to the vendor.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Health Communities, Infrastructure
CONTACT
Brendan Ferry, Principal Planner
Community Development Services, Planning and Building Department